February 2022 – Page 2 – CanucksBanter

The Vancouver Canucks face off against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on February 28, 2022 in Newark, New Jersey, in their 4,000th NHL regular season game. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

by Mike G. Morreale @mikemorrealeNHL / NHL.com Staff Writer

NEWARK, N.J. — Jack Hughes had a goal and an assist for the New Jersey Devils in a 7-2 win against the Vancouver Canucks at Prudential Center on Monday.

He kept brother Quinn Hughes winless against him in the NHL. Jack has three points (two goals, one assist) in three NHL wins against his brother and the Canucks. He scored his first NHL goal in a 1-0 win on Oct. 19, 2019 and then won 2-1 on Nov. 10, 2019.

Nico Daws made 36 saves for New Jersey (19-29-5). The Devils have won 12 straight games against the Canucks; their last loss (2-0) came Nov. 25, 2014.

J.T. Miller had an assist to extend his point streak to seven games (four goals, 10 assists) for the Canucks (26-23-6), whose three-game winning streak ended. Thatcher Demko made 18 saves in 33:41 of relief of Jaroslav Halak (eight saves on 14 shots).

Thatcher Demko #35 of the Vancouver Canucks deflects a shot on goal during the third period against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on February 28, 2022 in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Canucks 7-2. (Photo by Andy Marlin/NHLI via Getty Images)

Hughes made it 1-0 at 9:15 of the first period when he skated into the right face-off circle and scored on a wrist shot.

Yegor Sharangovich scored for a 2-0 lead at 15:24.

Dawson Mercer extended the lead to 3-0 at 17:44 on a power-play goal.

Vasily Podkolzin pulled Vancouver within 3-1 at 1:36 of the second period, scoring on a deflection.

Jesper Boqvist made it 4-1 at 3:08 on a backhand.

Ryan Graves scored for a 5-1 lead at 5:07 of the second on a shot from the left point that deflected off Luke Schenn in the slot.

Demko replaced Halak after Jesper Bratt made it 6-1 at 6:19 of the second.

Tanner Pearson made it 6-2 at 8:14 of the second for the Canucks, who won 5-2 at the New York Rangers on Sunday.

Dougie Hamilton scored his first goal since Dec. 29 at 11:42 of the third period for New Jersey for the 7-2 final. It was his third game back after missing two months with a broken jaw.

Hughes (20 years, 290 days) has scored 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in a seven-game point streak while extending his multipoint streak to four games (three goals, seven assists). The only active players to have longer runs at age 20 or younger are Patrik Laine (five games, 2017-18) and Steven Stamkos (five games, 2009-10).

During an extra-ordinary meeting held on Monday, 28 February, the IIHF Council evaluated the impact of the current war. The IIHF strongly condemns the use of military force and urges the use of diplomatic means to solve conflict.

The IIHF Council has decided to take the following actions:

-Suspension of all Russian and Belarusian National Teams and Clubs from participation in every age category and in all IIHF competitions or events until further notice

-Withdrawal of the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship hosting rights from Russia
These two actions have been initiated by the Council in order to enable the IIHF to ensure the safety of IIHF Championships and all participating players, officials, and fans.

Under the current conditions, this decision would have an impact on the following events:

2022 IIHF Continental Cup (4-6 March 2022)
-Belarus club team HK Gomel would not participate

2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship (21 April-01 May 2022)
-Russia and Belarus men’s U18 teams would not participate

2022 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship (13-29 May 2022)
-ROC and Belarus men’s national teams would not participate

2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women’s Word Championship (Dates TBB)
-Russia women’s U18 national team would not participate

2022 IIHF World Junior Championship (Dates TBD)
-Russia men’s U20 national teams would not participate

2022 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship (26 August-4 September 2022)
-ROC women’s national team would not participate

Any potential sportive impact of the Council decision on tournament seeding and promotion/relegation will be announced in the coming weeks.

The 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship was scheduled to take place from 26 December 2022 to 5 January 2023. The IIHF will initiate discussions in the coming months to find a new host for the event.

The decision to relocate the event was taken primarily out of concern for the health and well-being of all participating players, officials, and fans. The IIHF Council also expressed deep concerns over the safe freedom of movement of players and officials to, from, and within Russia. The IIHF Council also took into account the Russian government’s breach of the Olympic Truce, which was adopted in December 2021 as a UN resolution by United Nations General Assembly. The breach of the Olympic Truce led to a condemnation by the International Olympic Committee’s Executive Board last week.

The IIHF Council has not left out the possibility of further actions impacting future events or other IIHF activities but hopes above all for a swift and peaceful resolution to the war.

“The IIHF is not a political entity and cannot influence the decisions being taken over the war in Ukraine,” said IIHF President Luc Tardif. “We nevertheless have a duty of care to all of our members and participants and must therefore do all we can to ensure that we are able to operate our events in a safe environment for all teams taking part in the IIHF World Championship program.”

“We were incredibly shocked to see the images that have come out of Ukraine,” added Tardif. “I have been in close contact with members of the Ice Hockey Federation of Ukraine and we hope for all Ukrainians that this conflict can be resolved in a peaceful way and without the need for further violence.”

Source: iihf.com